Chapter 695 Exile to the Dwarf Kingdom

"There are probably not many people in Faerun who haven't heard of the story of the wandering dwarf king of Taesaama. It has been more than three and a half centuries since they were driven out of their homeland, the Taesaama Mine. Their dream of restoring their country is getting farther and farther away." Ms. Gowther knew all about Jiharin's situation.

Because the Taesaama Mine is so famous.

The Kingdom of Taesaama was once known as the northern light of the dwarves, and it was listed on the continent of Faerun along with the Great Rift Valley, the kingdom of the gold dwarves in the southern Shaya Plain.

The reason why this place is famous is not because the number of dwarves living here is as large as that in the Great Rift Valley, but because it has the largest fine gold mine and the best quality iron mine in Faerun. At its peak, this place and the Mithril Hall in the North controlled more than half of the fine gold and mithril output in Faerun, and the iron ore they produced accounted for half of the total amount used by the Zhentarim, the Kingdom of Cormyr, the Valley and the Kingdom of Sembia.

The fall of the Kingdom of Taesaama is not only a loss for the dwarves, but also a loss for the surrounding intelligent races.

Gavin, who had been in the Zhentarim for ten years in his previous life, had come into contact with some secrets unknown to outsiders. The fall of the Kingdom of Taesaama was not as simple as being conquered by monster forces.

At that time, the Kingdom of Taesaama was powerful, which was very unfavorable to the rise of the Zhentarim, because this mine was located at the northern end of the Desert Mouth Mountains, and its influence included Dagger Valley, Shadow Valley, Misty Valley and part of the Moon Sea area. Most importantly, they blocked the Zhentarim's way into the Anauroch Desert and refused to go along with the Dark Intelligence Network.

After the demise of the Kingdom of Taesaama, the Zhentarim immediately entered a period of rapid development. Not only did they have sufficient wealth, but they also developed a black road in the Anauroch Desert, crossing the entire Great Sand Sea and connecting the east and west ends of the desert. Relying on this unique trade route, the Zhentarim completed its mid-term rise, allowing more merchants to join this dark intelligence network. In just a few decades, it grew into a tyrant organization that dominated the entire Moon Sea area.

Many things cannot be judged by appearances, but by the final beneficiaries. Even if they are not the masterminds, they are not immune to the consequences.

The Zhentarim are the biggest beneficiaries after the fall of the Kingdom of Taeselama. Instead, it is the army of monsters that destroyed the country. Since then, they have become nameless and have only firmly occupied the huge underground kingdom, preventing their original owners from retaking it. They sound like tools controlled by others.

"Everything is possible." Gavin, under the night sky, had a meaningful smile on his face.

Ms. Gowther felt like she was struck by lightning. A crazy idea spread wildly in her mind. She couldn't help but lower her voice and said, "You came here this time. You don't want to sell the dream of restoring the country to these dwarves, do you?"

The more she thought about it, the more she felt it was possible. This was very consistent with the other party's style of doing things, and also with the god behind him.

"They already have the dream of restoring their country, why do I need to sell it? I just have some business to start with these dwarves." This time Gavin did not admit it directly, because there are many things involved, especially related to the Zhentarim. The fewer people who know about many things, the better. Guessing is one thing, and admitting it in person is another.

"I see." Gowther's mother is also a smart person. She understood and stopped asking. Many things don't need to be explained too clearly.

There are so many dwarves in the world. Isn't it the biggest problem that Gavin doesn't look for anything else but the exiled dwarf king of Taeselama?

Boom!

The gate of the manor fortress not far away opened, and a team of short and strong figures came out with eternal flames and torches held high. Their steps were slow and heavy, because they were all wearing heavy armor. From a distance, they looked like round iron barrels.

Dwarves are also one of the major intelligent races in Faerun. Like elves and dwarves, they are also long-lived species with a lifespan of up to four or five centuries.

Elves are known as the sons of the forest, while dwarves are known as the sons of the earth. Legends about dwarves can be said to be everywhere, not only because their footsteps are all over Faerun, but also because they have the top forging technology in Faerun. Dwarf forging has become a special term, referring to fine products, even the finest of the fine products.

Their personalities are also like stubborn stones, smelly and hard. Their philosophy of life lacks flexibility. Once they have made up their minds, they can't be pulled back even by nine bulls. This is the lingering racial label of dwarves.

Their castles and fortresses are either in the mountains or underground, usually connected with various mines and veins. Because they advocate collective life, few dwarves go out to travel and adventure. Such existence is either the expelled of the clan or shouldering the unique mission of the clan.

Therefore, in human cities, there are not many opportunities to encounter dwarves. Once they appear, they are usually the best forgers in the local area and have their own blacksmith shops.

The appearance of a dwarf is just like their name, a shorter-looking human being, usually between 1.2 and 1.4 meters tall, but no one would confuse him with a human or a dwarf.

Because dwarves have naturally developed muscles, both men and women have arms as thick as thighs, and are as thick from top to bottom. They lack vertical development, but have an absolute advantage in horizontal development. An adult dwarf of 1.3 meters usually weighs the same as an adult human of 1.8 meters - this refers to normal body shape, not fat or thin.

All dwarves cherish their beards, even on the sharp axe in their hands, and integrate them into their aesthetics. It is said that when dwarves choose a mate, the first thing they look at is the beard.

A dwarf without a beard is a very strange thing. Forcibly shaving a dwarf's beard is the greatest humiliation to him, and this humiliation can only be washed away by blood.

Walking in the front is a very standard dwarf, thick and strong, with no hair on his head, shining under the light of the eternal flame torch, but with a thick beard that drags all the way to his belly. These beards are carefully groomed and divided into five bundles, tied with a lot of beard rings, but the traces of time cannot be covered. His beard is completely white, and his forehead is covered with wrinkles, just like carved with a chisel, deep enough to pinch a fly to death.

Like most long-lived species, they stay in the youth and middle-aged stages for a long time. The young stage is only slightly longer than that of humans, but the aging period is as short as that of humans. When the aging characteristics show on them, it means that they are very old.

This old dwarf in front of him is like this. He is now like a 90-year-old human. If Gavin remembers correctly, he only has ten years left to live before he dies. For this kind of death, not to mention the resurrection spells of the priests, even the gods themselves cannot help, because this means that he has completed the reincarnation of this world. No matter how much entanglement, resentment, and regret he had in his life, they no longer have anything to do with him. He must enter the kingdom of God or enter the reincarnation of life.

This person is none other than the last dwarf king of the Kingdom of Taeselama, the son of Grareen, the wandering dwarf king, the patriarch of the Iron Clan, Jiharin, and also one of the top blacksmiths in all of Faerun.

"General Gavin, I've been waiting for you to come for so long that the moon and the stars are almost gone. OK, OK, OK, the general is more extraordinary than I thought. Come, come, come, come, please come in quickly." Jiharin held Gavin's hand, and his enthusiasm was about to flow down his face. People who didn't know him would think that the two were old friends who hadn't seen each other for many years. He didn't feel the coldness and stubbornness of the dwarves at all.

Gavin and Jiharin did meet for the first time, but they had started exchanging letters several months ago, that is, when Gavin got a batch of fine gold.

It's just that the letters at that time were like a stone sinking into the sea, and there was no response directly. I don't know if the other party didn't receive it? Or didn't take Gavin, a young boy, seriously at all.

I believe the latter possibility is more likely. After all, Gavin at that time was at best a little famous in the rock and valley, and he was not qualified to talk to Jiharin.

Although he was an exiled king who had lost his country and territory, there were still thousands of dwarves loyal to him. As long as he wanted, he would form an army at any time. In 1364, five years later, the Iron Clan launched a counterattack against the Taessama Mine and formed a dwarf army called the Mithril Legion to try to regain their homeland, but unfortunately it ended in failure.

After that, the Iron Clan never launched any effective expedition against the Taessama Mine again until the arrival of the Arcane Calamity, and there was no such opportunity anymore, because the Taessama Mine and most of the Desert Mouth Mountains were directly wiped out from the continent of Faerun.

Even without this identity, he is a legendary blacksmith. Every day, the nobles and adventurers who want to visit him and entrust him to help them make equipment can break the threshold of his house. He can't meet them one by one, let alone such a letter. This is also the reason why Gavin knew his location long ago but didn't visit rashly. People like him will not bow down for money, unless you are strong enough or have enough power to let him see another possibility - helping him to restore his country.

Obviously, Gavin, who has a large army of conquerors, has such qualifications. When he received Jihalin's reply, Gavin had led the army of conquerors to the Dragon Coast.

This time, it was Gavin's turn not to be anxious. He just kept exchanging letters, but he didn't visit him.

Since the other party took a fancy to his power, it would not be too late to use the power in his hands to promote it to the extreme, and it would be delayed for a month.

This month was not delayed in vain. If he had come a month ago, he would definitely not enjoy the courtesy now.

"It's really presumptuous to visit you late at night. I just need to discuss the recovery of the rock land in the imperial city during the day. I can't get away." Gavin found a random reason, but everyone knew it well. They just didn't want to expose the cooperation relationship between the two sides to the public for the time being.

Jiharin looked indifferent, "The door of our True Shield Trading Company is always open for the general. Let's go, let's go, I have asked someone to prepare a banquet. We won't go home until we are drunk today."

"Forget the banquet. Let's talk about business first. The time I can stay is very limited. We have to leave at dawn." Gavin didn't come here to eat and drink.

"I didn't expect that the adults' temper is more impatient than our dwarves." Jiharin couldn't help but glance at Ms. Gowther. The implication was obvious. What they were going to talk about next involved many secrets. Is she suitable to participate?

"We need a liaison, and Ms. Gowther will launch a series of business activities in the Kingdom of Cormyr. Some business operations that are not suitable for us to come forward are most suitable for her." Gavin brought Ms. Gowther here for a reason.

"General, you are as foresighted as the legend says. You are worthy of being the chosen one of Lady Strategy." Jiharin said no more, because after so many years of wandering, he was very aware of the inconveniences brought by his sensitive identity.

Although the Kingdom of Cormier allowed them to settle in the kingdom, they were also very cautious about them. At least they were not allowed to keep their family estates in the city of Araby, nor were they allowed to retain too many armed forces. There were countless battle mages secretly monitoring them.

I believe that Gavin's visit has now been sent to King Yasan's desk as urgent information.

After all, they were once a kingdom, not an ordinary power organization, so they would naturally receive completely different treatment.

If he represents the power of an old kingdom that is about to pass away.

Then, the young man in front of him represents a new, energetic and vibrant new power.

When the old and the new began to meet, it was not only Jiharin who trembled in his heart, but also the competitors of the Conqueror in the Rock Land, who were afraid that they would also be worried.

In addition to being stubborn, dwarves are also famous for their straightforwardness. They don't care whether you are humble or not. Since you say you don't need it, then they will take it as you don't need it and won't make a second concession.

Jiharin did the same. He took Gavin and Ms. Gowther directly into the depths of the manor fortress and went deep into the main hall underground. After sitting down, the wandering dwarf king pinched his gray beard and said, "Before the official start, I want to see the general's fine metalwork first."

"Okay!" Gavin replied readily.

Jiharin clapped his hands, "Come in!"

Three dwarves came in after hearing the news. Each of them held a set of golden armor in their hands, as if they were printed from the same mold, exactly the same as the battle armor that Gavin had just obtained at that time.

Pointing at the three sets of armor, the wandering dwarf king explained, "This is the adamantium alloy armor I made based on the characteristics of the battle armor described by the general after receiving his letter. Unfortunately, there is no way to 100% replicate some of the characteristics mentioned by the general. I suspect it is due to faith. Therefore, I abandoned some of the characteristics mentioned by the general and focused on exploring the material's own capabilities, which is more convenient for cooperation with the adamantium technique mentioned by the general. Therefore, they are only semi-finished products now. If you want to fully explore their capabilities, you still need the cooperation of the general's adamantium technique."

"The clan leader is thoughtful." Gavin's face was full of joy. This was one of the purposes of his trip, to turn the precious metals accumulated in his hands into useful armor. However, he did not expect that this legendary blacksmith was more powerful than he expected. He had not seen the real appearance of the battle armor, but he was able to imitate it based on the few words in his letter, and he even produced his own materials for testing.

Gavin also knew that this was also a process of proving his identity. He had to prove that he was the supreme commander of the Conqueror Army and the person who was communicating with Jiharin. A simple self-introduction would not be enough to convince the other party.

"I have said before that fine metal is not my personal ability, but the ability of my weapon. I need to take out this weapon." Gavin was worried that taking out the War Reaver rashly would cause unnecessary misunderstandings, so he took precautions in advance.

"General, please." The wandering dwarf king showed sufficient confidence. With only two people, they could not make any waves in their manor fortress even if they were full of top-level equipment.

Gavin took off the War Reaver, which was hanging on his waist like an ornament, and controlled it to change into a more convenient medium-sized warhammer state.

"Moradin's beard! Artifact! High-level artifact!"

Jiharin jumped up and screamed in disbelief.

High-level artifact? !

Everyone's eyes fell on the adamantium warhammer in Gavin's hand. The shock and greed in their eyes could not be concealed no matter what. Every high-level artifact was a terrifying existence that could influence the situation of a war. Many adventure legends in Faerun revolved around a high-level artifact, or prevented them from being reorganized, so that their powerful power could be used by evil forces, such as Crenshinibon, the Broken Crystal, and the Xirui Sutra being made by the God of Conspiracy Xirik.

But every high-level artifact had a name, so how come I had never heard of a high-level artifact of a similar shape?

But Jiharin was a legendary blacksmith. In terms of weapons and equipment, he could be said to be at the top of the world. Even if the gods wanted to forge some powerful and unique magic tools, they might seek advice and help from him. He would never admit his mistake.

The wandering dwarf king couldn't help rubbing his big hands, and asked a little embarrassedly: "Can you lend me this weapon?"

The moment he saw this weapon, Gavin's identity was basically confirmed. How could a person holding a high-level artifact pretend to be someone else? This can also explain why the conqueror Gavin was able to rise to the peak and grow to the current level in less than a year.

"Please." Gavin handed over the War Reaver readily, because this was exactly what he wanted to do. If he wanted to use the almighty gold, there was no need to hold the War Reaver in his hand. It would work just by hanging it on himself.

There is a deep purpose behind this, not only to further prove his identity, but also to prove his strength. The stronger he is, the easier and smoother it will be to negotiate with these dwarves.

The dwarves' love for weapons and equipment is the best starting point.

"Please wait a moment, bring water and holy oil." Jihalin ordered again.